Addressing-machine.



U. G. LEE.

ADDRESSING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 28, 1913.

Patented May 25', 1915.

3 SHEETS-SHEET l.

IIIIJI wIIIIIIII |I n IFI/.IIIIIIIIIJV I I um THE NURRS PETERS C0.. PHOIGLITHO. WASHINGTUN. D. L,

U. G. LEE.

ADDRESSING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED 153.211.1913.

Patented May 25, 1915.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

I I 1 1 l I THE MORRIS PETERS CO.. FHDTO-LITHO.. WASHINGTON. D. Cv

Patent-ed May 25, 1915.

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3 S'HEETSAHEET 3.

THE NDRRIS PETERS Co., PHOTO-LITHO., WASHINGTON. D. c,

TINTTED ETATE@ PATENT FFTE.

ULYSSES G. LEE, OF CI-IAIT'ANOOGA, TENNESSEE, ASSIGNOR T0 MONTAGUE MAILING lVlACI-IINERY` CO.,v A CORPORATION OF TENNESSEE.

ADDRESSINGr-MACI-IINE.

Y Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 25, 1915.

Application led February 28, 1913. Serial No. 751,362.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, ULYssns Gr. LEE, citizen of the United States, residing at Chattanooga, Tennessee, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Addressing-Machines, of which the following is a specification.

My invention concerns more particularly a hand operated addressing machine, though I do not limit myself in this respect.

One object of my invention is to provide a semi-automatic machine for addressing shipping tags or strips of material which may be drawn by the operator from a suitably disposed holder' into position to receive the impression.

A further object of my invention is to provide an address plate carrier automatically operated in time with the movements of the impression head from a position at the impression point to an exposed position for taking the plate which is placed thereon by the operator, the carrier then moving back to the impression point automatically to make the impression by means of the address plate in conjunction with the advancing impression head.

My invention also concerns an arrangement of inking ribbon mechanism operated automatically as the impression head moves in relation to the impression point.

In the accompanying drawings Figure 1 is a side elevation of a machine embodying my invention, the impression arm being down; Fig. 2 is a plan view with the impression arm in the same position as in Fig. 1; and Fig. 8 is a rear view.

In these drawings, A is the base of the machine, B is the impression arm pivoted upon the rod D, which is mounted in ears extending up from the bed, the rod being held by set screws 16 and 17 which pass through bushings 18 and 19. These bushings project slightly beyond the inner faces of the ears or lugs, and serve to ao-rd lateral bearings for the rear end of the impression arm. The imp-ression arm is normally held up by a double coil spring C, the loop portion C of said spring engaging the base, as shown in Fig. 1, and the ends of the spring engaging the impression arm. The impression arm is provided with extensions E, E below or in rear of its pivot D, and to these extensions links F, F are connected, being pivoted upon the rod G, which is suitably riveted in the lower ends of the extensions E, E. The links are also pivotally connected by a bolt I to an arm II which extends forwardly and upwardly, and has at its front end a carrier H for receiving the address plates. This carrier is provided with depressions or grooves IPI for receiving the depressed margins of an address plate of the Montague type, which is now well known. This carrier for the address plates is supported upon a rocker L, the rounded upper end of which, as shown in Fig. 1, engages the rounded surface of a recess in the under side of the carrier. The carrier is not connected to the rocker in any way, but simply rests thereon. The rocker, at its lower end, is pivoted at M in any suitable manner upon a rod or bolt which has its bearings in suitable bushings in the frame of the machine. The carrier is held in contact with the rocker by a spring N. This vcarrier has a downwardly extending projection J which acts as a bumper when the carrier is moved forwardly, the said bumper striking the rubber or other suitable yielding stop K mounted in the frame. The carrier is arrested in its rearward movement by a set screw O carried by the arm II of the carrier coming against a portion of the fixed base, as shown in Fig. 1. This stop determines the exact position of the carrier at the printing point. The carrier arm II is connected with the impression arm by springs I), P, these, together with the links F, F', forming a yielding connection for operating the carrier, the object of which will appear hereinafter. A holder or tray Q is mounted on the frame in rear of the pivoted impression arm, and is designed to hold the folded strip of shipping tags, this strip being perforated so that one tag may be separated from the vstrip when desired.

S indicates an envelop guide which is adjustably held in place by set screws T, T. This guide may be readily detached from the machine when using the apparatus to `These shafts extend transversely of the frame, and carry the spools 11 and 12 at the pawl U enables it to be shiftedlater'ally into engagement with either one of the ratchets X, Y, and for holding it in engagement with either ratchet I provide a slotted plate W, the slot of which is gf inverted jU-'shape To change' the movement of the ribbon, it issimp'ly necessary to shift the pawl from the vertical portion of the slot at f one Vside 'of the tongue W to the vertical portion of said slot at the other side of said tongue, the loose'eonnecti'on above described allowing the pawl to be raised and lowered and moved laterally. Vhen in either position theV walls of the slot will hold the pawl in engagement with the proper ratchet. The ribbon spool shafts are under restraint of i friction bands 5', 6, which are pressed by Vsprings 7 and 8'.

The operation of the machine is as follows: When the impression head is in its 4upperv position, it stands atan angle of about 15 to a horizontal plane, and the carrier for the address plate is then in its forward position with the stop J abutting againstv the rubber stop K. It-will be understood that'the operator stands at the left of the machine Fig. 1 and grasps the handle Z'to press 'the impression arm downwardly, but when the impression arm is raised, as just mentioned, and the carrier is in its advanced position, it is exposed for receiving lthe address plate' thereon by the hand of the Voperator, it having been moved toward him 'plate under the inking ribbon.

this position shortly before the impression head or arm completes its downwardv in reaching this advanced position. This brings the carrier from beneath the impression head and more particularlyVVV from beneath the inking ribbon, and the operator having placed the address plate on the carrier with its depressed margins resting in Ythe grooves H, the handle Z is pressed downwardly and the carrier moves back to the impression point, carrying the address It arrives stroke', being arrested by the stop O coming against the frame, as shown in Fig. 1, the yielding connection above described consisting ofthe links F, F', and springs I, P,

permitting the action just described, namely: the arresting of the carrier before the impression head completes its downward movement. After the impression has been made,

Y the impression head rises when released by the operator, but owing tothe yielding conhead has become entirely free from the article printed. In other words, the movement of the carrier does not take place away from the impression point until after the impression head has started on its upward movement. By this arrangement the impression is made clear and sharp, and there is no smudging such as would result were the carrier made to move forwardly at the same instant that the impression head begins to rise.

' The position or action of the carrier I-I in relation to the impression arm is controlled by a stop or stops X which bears against the forward edge of the links F. When the impression arm is raised and the stop O is moved from the frame, 'the carrier together With the links F, under the action of the spring ID, would have a tendency to move toward the right, but when the stop X bears on the links the carriage and links will move as one body.

In the movement of the carrier, it is supported by the rocker, and it will be noticed that this rocker gives the carrier a slight up and down movement, and also that the carrier not only acts as a carrying means to move the address plate to and from thc printing point, but also as a support for the address plate during the impression, the thrust of the impression head being sustained by the carrier and the thrust of the carrier in turn being sustained by the rocker. In using the tag tray Q, the tags are folded in accordion or bellows fashion, and placed in the tray, and the operator, by taking hold of the strip of tags, simply draws this forward after each impression to bring the tags one after the other to the impression point, or if a continuous strip is used, to bring successive portions of this strip to the impression point. In this movement the strip will pass over the rounded bearing portion B of the impression arm, the shape of this arm being shown in the plan view, Fig. 2, it extending in curved foiin laterally from the impression head to the main lower portion of the arm, leaving a free space at Y.

It will be noted that the frame is provided with a way or channel extending transversely thereof in line with the impression point to receive the inking ribbon, and at the -ends of this channel there are inclined edges on the frame serving as guides about which the ribbon is turned at right angles so that its ends extend rearwardly. These rearwardly extending portions pass beneath the top of the frame to the ribbon spools, and these spools are located Abelow the top of the frame and at the sides of a reduced rear extension of said frame, as illustrated in the plan view, Fig. 2. By forming the lui frame with this reduced eXtension and with the cross channel and the inclined edges, the ribbon is properly protected and guided without special means being provided for this purpose other than the construction of the frame itself.

I claim as my invention 1. In combination in an addressing machine, a pivotally mounted hand operated impression head, a carrier for address plates having a back and forth movement'to and from the impression point under said head, and a connection between the impression head and the carrier to move the carrier forwardly from the impression point for the removal and replacing of the address plates when the impression head rises and for moving the carrier backward to the impression point when the impression head is lowered, said carrier serving to support the address plate and sustain the thrust of the impression head when the impression is made, substantially as described.

2. In combination in an addressing machine, a hand operated impression arm pivotally mounted at its rear end and having a handle portion at its front free end for operating it, a reciprocating carrie-r for address plates moving away from the pivot of the impression arm, when the same rises,

. and to a position in front o-f the impression point to deliver and receive the address plates, said carrier moving rearwardly toward the pivoted end of the impression arm, when the latter is moved downwardly,

` to carry the plate to the impression point,

and means for effecting said movements of the carrier as the impression head is moved up and down, said means consisting of a connection between the impression arm and the carrier, substantially as described.

3. In combination an impression head having a back and forth movement in relation to the impression point, a reciprocating carrier for the address plates moving from the impression point, when the impression member is raised, to receive the plates thereon, and moving back to the impression point when the impression member is lowered, and a stop for arresting the carrier before the -impression head completes its downward movement, and means consisting of a connection from the impression arm for automatically moving the carrier against said stop, substantially as described.

t. In a hand operating addressing machine and in combination an impression head having a back and forth movement, in relation to the impression point, a carrier having a back and forth movement, c'. c. to the impression point when the impression head is lowered, and forwardly away from said impression point when the vhead is raised, a yielding connection for operating the carrier from the impression head, and a stop for arresting the carrier before the impression head completes its movement for making the impression, substantially as described.

5. In a hand operated addressing machine and in combination, an impression head having a movement toward and from the impression point, an inking ribbon, a plate carrier having a back and forth movement for bringing the plate mounted on the carrier to a position directly beneath the ribbon, and for moving the plate to an exposed position at one side of the ribbon, and means for automatically shifting the carrier as the head is manually shifted, said means including a yielding connection, and a stop for arresting the carrier before the impression head completes its impression making movement.

6. In combination a hand operated impression member comprising a pivoted arm, a carrier for the address plates, said pivoted arm having an extension below its pivot, and a connection between said extension and the carrier for moving the said carrier forwardly from the impression point as the impression arm swings upwardly and rearwardly therefrom, and for moving the carrier rearwardly to the impression point as the impression arm swings forwardly to said point, substantially as described.

7. In combination in a hand operated addressing machine, a pivotally mounted impression member having an extension beyond its pivot, a carrier for address plates having a yielding connection with said extension to move the carrier forwardly as the impression member swings up and rearwardly, and to move the carrier rearwardly to locate the address plate beneath the impression member when this swings forwardly and downwardly, and a stop for limiting the rearward movement of the carrier, substantially as described.

8. In combination in a hand operated addressing machine, a pivotally mounted impression arm, a plate carrier, a sto-p to arrest the carrier at the impression point and a lost motion connection between the carrier and arm to move the carrier forwardly after the impression arm has partly performed its upward movement, and permitting the impression arm to complete its downward movement after the carrier has come to rest at the impression point, substantially as described.

9. In combination a pivoted impression arm, a reciprocatory carrier for the address plates, a yielding connection between the carrier and the impression arm to move the former forward as the arm swings upwardly and rearwardly, and to move the carrier backward as the impression arm swings forwardly and downwardly to the impression point, and stops for arresting the carrier in its forward and backward movements,

arm connected to both, and stop means for f the carrier, substantially as described.

11. In combination an impression arm pivotally mounted, a reciprocatory carrier for address plates connected at one end to and operated from said arm, and a pivotally mounted-rocker upon which the free end of Y the carrier is supported, substantially as described.

12. In combination an impression arm pivotally mounted and carrying an impression head having a handle at its free end, an address plate carrier, with means for moving the same, and a holder for a strip of material in rear of the pivotof the impression arm from which the operator draws the stripby hand under the free end of the arm, said impression arm having a free space between the impression head and its pivot for the passage of the strip of material, substantially as described.

13. In combination an impression arm pivotally mounted, a reciprocatory carrier for address plates, a connection for automatically moving said carrier forwardly to an exposedfposition as the impression arm retracts from the impression point, and for retracting said carrier to the impression point when the impression arm moves toward saidV point, and a pivotally mounted rocker for supporting the carrier, substantially as described.

141. In combination an impression arm pivotally mounted, a reciprocatory carrier for address plates, a connection for automatically moving said carrier forwardly to an exposed position as the impression arm retracts fronrthe impression point, and for retracting said carrier to the impression point when the impression arm moves toward said point, a pivotally mounted rocker for supporting the carrier, and a spring for holding the carrier upon said rocker, substantially as described.

15. In combination with a pivotally mounted impression arm, a carrier for address plates, said impression arm having an extension below its pivot, a connection between the said extension andthe address plate carrier lto reciprocate the said address plate carrier in unison Vwith the oscillations of the impression arm, inlrin'g ribbon mechanism comprising spools and shafting, ratchet means for operating the .shafting, a pawl connected with the said extension of the impression arm and arranged to operate said ratchet means, and guide means for the ribbon whereby it is directed forwardly from the spools at each side of the impression arm and thence transversely over the impression point, substantially as described.

16. In combination in an addressing machine, a frame, a manually operated impression arm having up and down movement, a reciprocatory carrier for address plates, a connection between said carrier and the impression arm to move the carrier forward from lthe impression point when the impression arm rises for the removal of the address plate and its replacing, and to move the carrier back to the impression point when the impression arm is lowered to make the impression, an inking ribbon extending over the impression point and over the carrier when in position to make the impression, and means for operating the ribbon from Vthe impression arm, whereby either single or multiple impressions can be made from the same plate by simply operating the impression arm, substantially as described.

17. In combination in an addressin machine, a frame, a pivotally inounte impression arm having an impression head, said frame having a cross channel with inclined guiding edges at the ends of said cross channel, the said frame having a reduced rear extension, and ribbon spools arranged below the surface of the frame on opposite sides of the reduced rear extension, from which spools the ribbon is guided beneath the main portion of the frame and thence transversely through the cross channel in said frame, substantially as described.

18. In a hand operated addressing machine and in combination, a frame having a top plate provided with an opening therethrough, an inking ribbon having a portion extending across said opening and located in a horizontal plane substantially coincident with the upper surface of the top plate, an impression member pivotally connected to the frame and including a hand engaging part at the free end thereof above the frame and an impression head located contiguous to said hand engaging part, said member being movable toward and from the aforesaid part of the inking ribbon, a plate carrier mounted within the frame and having a plate receiving portion designed to be exposed through the top plate, said plate carrier being movable from a position where said plate receiving portion is located at one side of the ribbon and exposed through the top plate of the machine to a position where the plate receiving portion is located beneath the ribbon, and means associated with the impression member for automatically shifting the plate carrier from its first named to its second named position during the movement of the impression head toward the ribbon, and for retaining the plate carrier stationary in its second position during the final portion of the last named movement of the impression head.

19. In a hand operated addressing machine, a frame having an opening in the top thereof, a ribbon mounted on the frame and having a portion extending across said opening and disposed in a horizontal plane contiguous to the surface of the top plate of the frame, a hand operated impression member including a head movable toward and away from the last named portion of the ribbon, a plate carrier movable in a plane below the last named portion of the ribbon, and toward and from a position beneath the same, and means actuated by the movement of the impression member for moving the plate carrier toward the ribbon and for retaining the same in a fixed position during the nal portion of the movementl of the impression head toward the ribbon, and for moving the plate carrier to an exposed position at one side of the 'ribbon during the movement of the impression head away from the ribbon.

20. In a hand operated addressing machine, and in combination, a frame including a top plate having a substantially centrally disposed opening extending therethrough, side recesses having inclined inner walls and ribbon channels leading from said walls to said opening, ribbon spools mounted at the sides of the frame'adjacent the rear thereof, a ribbon mounted on the spools having a portion guided beneath the top plate of the frame, around said inclined side walls, through the channels, and across said centrally disposed opening, an impression member pivotallv connected to the frame and including a head movable toward and from the portion of the ribbon extending across the opening, a plate carrier mounted in the frame and movable toward and from a position beneath the ribbon, and an operating connection between the impression member and the plate carrier.

21. In a hand addressing machine and in combination, a frame, an impression member pivotally mounted thereon, and including a hand operated portion located above the top of the frame and carrying an impression surface, and a portion extending below the top plate of the frame, a plate carrier mounted in the frame, and means for shifting the plate carrier in one direction in one movement of the impression member including a coil spring connected at one end to the portion of the impression member extending below. the top of the frame and at its other end to a part associated with the plate carrier.

22. In a hand operated addressing machine and in combination, a'frame having an opening through the top plate thereof, an

inking ribbon extending across said opening, an impression member mounted on the frame and provided with an impression surface, a plate carrier movable to position beneath the inking ribbon and to an exposed position at one side thereof, and means associated With the impression member operating as the said impression surface is moved toward the ribbon for shifting the plate carrier to a position beneath the ribbon and for holding the plate carrier in a fixed position during the final part of the last-named movement of the impression member, said means including a yielding link.

23. In a hand operated addressing machine and in combination, a frame having an opening through the top plate thereof, an inking ribbon extending across said opening, an impression member mounted on the frame and provided with an impression surface, a plate carrier movable to a position beneath the inking ribbon and to an exposed position at one side thereof, and means controlled by the impression member operating as the said impression surface is moved toward the ribb'on for shifting the plate carrier to a position beneath the ribbon and for holding the plate carrier in a fixed position during the final part of the last-named movement of the impression member, said means including a spring for effecting a connection between the plate carrier and impression member, and a stop for maintaining a substantially fixed relation Abetween the arm and plate carrier.

24. In a hand addressing machine and in combination, a frame, an impression member pivotally mounted thereon including a portion located above the top plate of the frame and equipped with an impression surface, and a portion extending below the top plate of the frame, an inking ribbon, a plate carrier mounted in the frame and movable to a position beneath the ribbon, and to an exposed position at one side thereof. and a connection between the portion of the impression member located below the top plate of the machine and the plate carrier, said connection including a` spring tending to move the carrier toward the lastnamed portion of the impression member, and means for limiting such movement.

25. In a hand addressing machine and in combination, a frame having a top plate with an opening therethrough, an inking ribbon extending across the opening, an impressionI member pivotally mounted on the frame, and including an arm having a hand engaging portion at its free end and an impression portion contiguous thereto, a spring tending to move the arm for carrying said impression portion away from the inking ribbon, a plate carrier mounted in the frame and having movement to occupy a position beneath the ribbon and a secondv position at one side thereof and toward. the front ofthe machine, said impression mem'- ber having a portion depending below its pivotal point, substantially fixed surfaces vof the impression member under` the influence of lits actuating spring when the plate 1 carrier is arrested by the other stop surface.

' 26.` In a hand addressingmachine and in combination, aV frame havingv a top' plate Copies of this patent ina-y be obtained .for

with an opening. therein, a ribbon extending across said opening in a horizontal plane contiguous to .the upper face of the top plate, an impression member mounted on the frame and including a hand engaging part and an impression surface, a plate carrier, and means controlled by the impression member and acting upon the operation thereof to bring the impression surface thereof toward the ribbon, for moving the plate receiving surface of the plate carrier from a position in advance of and materially beneath the plane of the ribbon upwardly and rearwardly to a position beneath the ribbon and contiguous to the under face thereof.

In testimony whereof, I aiiix my signature in presence of tWo Witnesses.

ULYSSES G. LEE. Witnesses Mrs. H. T. PATTON, O. C. PARIS.

ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, WaShgtn, D: Cwl 

